MARGAO: Goa has recorded one of the highest short-term illness rates in the country, with 18.7 per cent of its population reporting ailments within a 15-day period — a figure that places the state fourth nationally and well above the 13.1 per cent national average, according to the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) 80th Round survey on Household Social Consumption: Health.
The data, collected between January and December 2025 and released in April 2026, underscores a sharp divergence: Goa is simultaneously reporting a higher burden of illness while maintaining relatively lower treatment costs and strong reliance on public healthcare.
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States such as Kerala, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh rank above Goa in morbidity, but the State’s numbers remain strikingly high, pointing to either a heavier disease load, better detection, or a combination of both. The survey uses the Proportion of Persons Reporting Ailment (PPRA) to capture short-term morbidity, including both outpatient cases and hospitalisations.
Public health experts caution that a higher PPRA does not necessarily signal a failing system. In Goa’s case, it may reflect greater health awareness, easier access to care, and more frequent reporting of illness. With a relatively robust healthcare network, residents are more likely to seek treatment early — often at the outpatient level — rather than delay care until hospitalisation becomes necessary.
This pattern is visible in treatment trends, where a significant share of cases are managed outside hospitals, suggesting earlier diagnosis and intervention. However, the high reporting levels also reinforce concerns about a substantial underlying burden of disease, particularly non-communicable conditions that are already prevalent in the State.
Despite the elevated morbidity figures, Goa stands out on affordability. The average cost of hospitalisation is Rs 25,726, considerably lower than the national average of Rs 37,858, indicating a comparatively lighter financial burden on households for inpatient care.
The State’s public healthcare system appears to be a key stabiliser. Nearly 64.7 per cent of residents rely on government health facilities — almost double the national average of 36.7 per cent — reflecting both accessibility and trust in public services.
Yet, the divide between public and private healthcare remains stark. While hospitalisation in government facilities costs around Rs 1,639 on average, the same treatment in private hospitals surges to Rs 69,777, highlighting the risk of significant out-of-pocket expenditure for those outside the public system.
A similar gap is evident in maternity care. Institutional childbirth in public hospitals costs approximately Rs 1,010, compared to Rs 44,410 in private facilities — a disparity that underscores the critical role of government institutions in keeping healthcare affordable.
The findings position Goa as a high-reporting, high-access health system — one where illness is more frequently detected and treated, but where the underlying disease burden remains a concern.
